Garment



G. NICKERSON GARMENT Filed Sept. 4, 1931 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 M BY ab ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1933. G. NlcKERsoN GARMENT Filed Sept. 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY 4 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 Unrrif.l STATES PArssr FFME .l

molan-neon, or MiLronn, CONNECTICUT, AssrGNon `'ro Kors BROTHERS,

me., or .new Yoan, N. Y., a ocn-rennrron on NEW YORK" GARMENT Application :filed September 4, 1931. Serial No. 561,12*?.- s

This invention relates to improvements in garments and more particularly in girdles, corset and combination garments. An important fea-ture of the improved garment is the provision of a diaphragm supporting structure which will provide the desired support to the diaphragm at all times but is capable of yielding the front of the garment in order to avoid discomfort while a person, particularly ene inclined to be stout, is seated. To this end suitable elastic straps or bands are extended between the sides of the garment and a portion extending over the diaphragm at the front and these bands are so connected to the remaining portions of the garment as to provide a relatively free yielding structure toward the top of the diaphragm. In one cmboniment of the invention the construction may be such that the garment is substantially unyielding toward the bottom of the diaphragm or at the waist line. 1n another embodiment provision is made for a certain amount of yielding at all portions of the diaphragm and at the waistline although the elasticity adjacent the top of the diaphragm is considerably greater than at other points.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the Vsame proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view ofthe garment as it would appear when encircling the body.

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view along the line 2 2 of Figure 1 showing the upper edge of one of the elastic bands, and

Figure 3 is a view showing a portion of the inside of the garment opened out.

Referring now to the drawings,the garment may comprise any suitable form of girdle having portions of elastic material and other portions of inelastic material, the various portions being so arranged as to provide a yielding structure which will conform readily to the contours of the body. This girdle structure may either form a continuous, unbroken band of the step-in type or it may be provided with suitable fasteners adapted to join the free ends along the line 9 at the side of the wearer. AtV the front there` may', `for example, be provided apair of inelastic sec.-` tions 10 and 11 having joined thereto by lines, of stitching 12 and 13 a pairof central sections 14 and 15. These are formed of inelastic material and are joined along thev front center line of the garment Vby lines of -stitch-- ing 16. As shown, the sections 14 and 15areL preferably tapered slightly from' the bottom toward the top,.being somewhat wider at the.y top. They extend a considerable' distance above the sections 10 and `11 so'that their upper portions overlie the ydiaphragm of the wearer.y Sections 10 and 11 may terminate substantially at the Waistline while the central portion formed by sections 14 and 15 will extend a considerable distance 'above theV waistline. To provide a desirable yields-at thelower end of the central section, a triangular insert 17 of elastic material is secured to the sections 14 and 15 by lines of stitching 18 and 19. Y.

Above the sections 10 and 11 and, secured theretoby lines of stitching 2O and 21vare small sections 22 and 23 of inelastic material. These smallsections form anchor members for elastic bands 24 and 25.v .The band 24 is secured to the section 22 by lines of stitching 26 and to thesection 14 by lines of ystitching 27. Furthermore7 this elastic memberis se.- cured along its lower edge 28tofthe upper end of the section 10 by means of suitable stitching. In a similar way the elastic member 25 iszsecured to the anchor member 23 by stitching 29 and to section 16 by s titching30 while its lower edge 31 is stitched to the top of the section 11. As shown in Figure 1, the members 24 and 25 are arrangeddiagonally downward to a slight degree from the outer edges thereof toward the sections `14 and 15 so vthat an uplift effect is had upon the upper ends of these sections which serve torsupport the diaphragm. Y i

If the garment is to be a combination a suitableform of brassire may be attached to the upper edge of the girdle portion. For this purpose the brassire may be formed of two sections 32 and 33 of any suitable material7 lace being employed ifv desired.V TheseV sections may be secured at the edges 34 and v 23. Suitable shoulder straps 41 and 42 may be provided for properly suspending the upper edgeof the brassire.

On the inner side of the garment, as best shown in Figure 3, there is provided an inelastic diaphragm band or pad 43 which is Ysecured along the edges 44 and 45 to the edges of the front member of the garment. Stilfening members, such as stays 46, may be vertically disposed intermediate the ends of the pad. The pad is entirely free intermediate the edges 44 and 45 and is of such length as to permit a limited .stretching of the bands 24 and 25 along their upper edges. Due to the fact that these elastic bands are'stitched along their lower edges to the inelastic mateto both at the sides thereof, and a pair of elastic straps extending from said anchor members to the side edges of said central portion, said straps .being secured along their lower edges to said front member and being extended diagonally upward from said central portion to provide an uplift effect upon the diaphragm.

3. A combination garment comprising a front, girdle member having a central portion extending above the waist-line, a brassire attached to the upper edge of said central portion, anchor members between said front member and said brassire and attached to both at the sides thereof, a pair of elastic straps extending from said anchor members to the side edges of said central portion, said straps being secured along their lower edges to said front member, and a diaphragm pad suspended freely at said anchor members andE underlying said straps and central portion.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 1st day of September, 1931.

GERTRUDE NICKERSON.

rial of the sections l0 and 1l, they will not be permitted to stretch at this point to an appreciable extent. This provides for-greater freedom in the support of the diaphragm adjacent the upper portion thereof than toward the lower portion. Accordingly, when a stout person wearing the garment assumes a sitting posture the tendency of the flesh at the front of the wearer to rise willbe permitted; with the result that the discomfort attending too close confinement of the iiesh adjacent the diaphragm will be avoided while the dia- Y phragm is still held in its correct position.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail in the foregoing, it will be understood that varivrgarment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

What 'I claim is:

l. A ycombination garment comprising a front, girdle member having a central portion extending aboveV the waist-line, a brassire attached lto the upper edge of said central portion, anchor members between said front member and said brassire and attached to both at the sides thereof, and a pair of elastic Lstraps extending from said anchor members to the edges of said central portion, said straps being secured along their lower edges to said front member.

'2. A combination garment comprising a front, girdle member having a central portion extending above the waist-line, a brassire attached to the upper edge of said central portion, anchor members between said front member and said brassire and attached 

